The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and the American College of Endocrinology are launching a year-long thyroid awareness campaign designed to educate patients about the signs and symptoms of thyroid disease, the organizations announced in a press release.

The campaign is an extension of the organizations’ activities for Thyroid Awareness Month and are part of a broader effort to educate the public on thyroid conditions that often go unrecognized.

Approximately one in five U.S. residents has thyroid disease; however, many are unaware that their thyroid is not functioning properly, according to AACE estimates. Thyroid disease is more common in women than men and tends to run in families.

“Thyroid issues affect many Americans, particularly female Americans, year-round,” R. Mack Harrell, MD, FACP, FACE, ECNU, president of the American College of Endocrinology, told Endocrine Today. “That is why the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists is determined to address these issues year-round rather than just during Thyroid Awareness Month in January or Thyroid Cancer Awareness month in September.”

To promote awareness of thyroid disease, Harrell said AACE and ACE chose a YouTube 10- to 20-minute video chat format that will include patients with thyroid disease along with clinical thyroid experts, to reach the maximal number of thyroid patients and primary care doctors via the internet.

“In 2018, we are planning 3 to 4 chat sessions, with many more to come, if patients and clinicians find them useful and informative,” Harrell said. “Stay tuned for announcements from AACE as these media events become available.”

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and the American College of Endocrinology are launching a year-long thyroid awareness campaign designed to educate patients about the signs and symptoms of thyroid disease, the organizations announced in a press release.

The campaign is an extension of the organizations’ activities for Thyroid Awareness Month and are part of a broader effort to educate the public on thyroid conditions that often go unrecognized.

Approximately one in five U.S. residents has thyroid disease; however, many are unaware that their thyroid is not functioning properly, according to AACE estimates. Thyroid disease is more common in women than men and tends to run in families.

“Thyroid issues affect many Americans, particularly female Americans, year-round,” R. Mack Harrell, MD, FACP, FACE, ECNU, president of the American College of Endocrinology, told Endocrine Today. “That is why the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists is determined to address these issues year-round rather than just during Thyroid Awareness Month in January or Thyroid Cancer Awareness month in September.”

To promote awareness of thyroid disease, Harrell said AACE and ACE chose a YouTube 10- to 20-minute video chat format that will include patients with thyroid disease along with clinical thyroid experts, to reach the maximal number of thyroid patients and primary care doctors via the internet.

“In 2018, we are planning 3 to 4 chat sessions, with many more to come, if patients and clinicians find them useful and informative,” Harrell said. “Stay tuned for announcements from AACE as these media events become available.”